479. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she or her Department have given consideration to targeted financial supports for parents who must rely on feeding formula for babies due medical or other reasons that prevent the safe administration of breastfeeding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33527/26]

Supporting infant and maternal health is a priority for my Department. Breastfeeding is actively promoted and supported from a public health perspective; however, it is also recognised that some parents are unable to breastfeed for medical or other reasons and must rely on infant formula to safely feed their babies.

At present, there are no plans to introduce targeted financial supports specifically linked to the use of infant formula. Responsibility for income and family-related financial supports rests primarily with the Department of Social Protection, which provides a range of universal and targeted measures to support families with children, including those on low incomes or experiencing financial vulnerability.

My Department works closely with colleagues across Government to ensure that the needs of vulnerable families are considered in wider policy development. This includes engagement through cross-government structures addressing food poverty, child health and social inclusion, and ensuring that health considerations inform broader cost-of-living and family support measures.

From a health perspective, my Department focuses on ensuring that parents who rely on infant formula have access to accurate, independent information on its safe preparation and use, and that infant formula placed on the market is subject to robust safety and regulatory controls.

The position regarding financial supports is kept under review in the context of wider Government policy, and my Department will continue to engage with relevant colleagues to ensure that the needs of families who cannot breastfeed are appropriately recognised, while maintaining a strong public health focus on protecting and supporting breastfeeding.